ENERGY: Power for People

Making it clear that ""energy will probably never be as cheap as it once was and the end of the petroleum age is not far off,"" Pringle surveys our dwindling oil and natural gas supplies, explains different possible methods (all expensive) for cleaning coal, on which we will depend more and more until it too runs out, points out drawbacks and dangers in present nuclear fuel production although its long term promise is good, and reviews potential ""cleaner, safer"" sources of the future such as hydroelectric, geothermal, solar and trash-conversion energy. As for conservation, several belt tightening and leak plugging measures can be taken. (Here Pringle's citation of the World Trade Center as energy pig number one is well deserved, but his reproduction without comment of a Con Ed ad urging us to turn off the air conditioner when no one is home, buy the right size air conditioner, turn off the kitchen range, TV, lights when not in use, and use the dishwasher only once a day has the effect of belittling the problem.) As we have heard it all before at a YA level this is not as urgently needed as some of Pringle's other books on environmental issues, but like the others it is a readable and reliable summary.